This fiesta lime chicken recipe is an Applebee’s copycat that seriously satisfies! I marinated tender, juicy chicken breasts, then grilled them with ranch and a slice of melty, gooey cheese to recreate my favorite dish right at home. And the best part is, it’s way healthier and easier than I’d ever imagined.
Fiesta lime chicken is my favorite thing to order at Applebee’s, but it’s even better when I make it at home! My version has less than half of the calories of the real deal and it still tastes just as amazing! I swapped in lite dressing and thinly-sliced cheese, and I didn’t notice a difference in flavor at all.
What’s in This Fiesta Lime Chicken Recipe?
- Chicken: I prefer lean boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but thighs will also work.
- Tequila: Adds a smoky flavor to the chicken and intensifies the overall flavor of the dish.
- Lime Juice: Adds a bright citrus flavor and helps tenderize the meat.
- Orange Juice: Adds a sweet citrus flavor.
- Garlic: Enhances the savory flavor of the chicken.
- Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend: Adds that classic fiesta lime flavor!
- Black Pepper: Adds a touch of peppery spice.
- Cilantro: Adds a pop of freshness and color.
- Cheese: Any good melting cheese will work with this recipe. I used ultra-thin slices of Colby jack, but cheddar, gruyere, or mozzarella also work well.
- Ranch: To keep this dish healthy, I opted for Kraft Lite 3-Cheese Ranch Dressing, but any kind will work.
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How to Store and Reheat
Once cooled to room temperature, you can store any leftover fiesta lime chicken you have in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating in the air fryer or oven until warmed all the way through.
Notes and Tips
- Leave the chicken to marinate overnight for the most flavor.
- If unsure if the chicken is cooked, use a meat thermometer and check it reaches 165°F.
Top Reader Review
“We loved this fiesta chicken – so easy and so much flavor!!” – Courtney
Fiesta Lime Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup tequila
- ¾ cup fresh lime juice (from 6 limes)
- ½ cup fresh orange juice (from 2 oranges)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoons Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend (see note)
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 4 slices ultra-thin Colby Jack or Cheddar Cheese
- ½ cup lite 3-cheese ranch dressing I used Kraft
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix tequila, lime juice, orange juice, garlic, fiesta lime seasoning blend, pepper, and cilantro.½ cup tequila, ¾ cup fresh lime juice, ½ cup fresh orange juice, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoons Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- Place the chicken into 2 gallon sized ziplock bags (2 per bag) and pour the marinade over the chicken. Seal in the fridge for 6-8 hours.4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- After marinating, take the chicken out of the bags and grill on medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes on each side, or until chicken is cooked through.
- Brush each chicken liberally with the ranch, and top with a slice of cheese. Allow the cheese to melt over the chicken before taking off the grill.½ cup lite 3-cheese ranch dressing, 4 slices ultra-thin Colby Jack or Cheddar Cheese
- Serve with rice, fresh pico de gallo, and lime slices.
Notes
- Note: If you don’t have access to Mrs. Dash seasoning, I recommend using 1 teaspoon of paprika, 1 teaspoon of cumin, and 1 teaspoon of salt instead.
How To Make Fiesta Lime Chicken Step by Step
Marinate the Chicken: Mix together ½ cup of tequila, ¾ cup of lime juice, ½ cup of orange juice, 2 minced cloves of garlic, 1 tablespoon of fiesta lime seasoning blend, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, and ½ cup of fresh cilantro. Place 4 chicken breasts into two different ziplock bags, pour the marinade over the chicken, and marinate for 6-8 hours in the fridge.
Grill the Chicken: Remove the marinated chicken from the bags. Grill over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes per side or until cooked through.
Top the Chicken: Brush the chicken with ½ cup of lite ranch, then top each one with 1 slice of ultra-thin Colby jack cheese.
Let it Melt: Allow the cheese to melt before removing the chicken from the grill.
Love the fresh and bold flavors in this chicken recipe. SO delicious!
Thanks Taylor!
The seasoning was perfect and the slice of cheese on top was a great touch!
LOVE THAT!
We loved this fiesta chicken – so easy and so much flavor!!
That seriously makes me so happy
Totally drooling over this right now! Yum!
Yay! Hope its a huge success
This chicken has amazing flavor and tastes perfect every time.
I’m so glad!
This looks great! Where do you find the fiesta lime seasoning? Any particular brand? Thanks.
Mrs. Dash has one I love! Hope you love the recipe!!
The Caesar Chicken & the Lime Chicken recipes I’ll definitely try. As for the Chicken Wings, they’re a different story. To me, Chicken Wings are garbage! They’re nothing but fatty skin & bones, and are only worth saving to make chicken broth & stock. Why they’re so popular I’ll never know. Actually, I’d rather have drumsticks,. At least there’s some ‘actual meat’ to sink your teeth into there. But hey, this is only MY opinion, & I’m sticking to it, but thanks for posting it, for those who like ’em 🙂
I hope you love the recipes that you do try! Have a great week 🙂
What would be a good substitute for the Lite 3-Cheese Ranch? It’s not a product available in our area.
If you can find a cheesy ranch dressing, that works best, but plain ranch will also work well!